Marines Encircle Fallouja (Operation Valiant Resolve commencing)

LA Times ^ | 4-4-04 | Tony Perry and Edmund Sanders

[BurbankKarl]

FALLOUJA, Iraq — Thousands of Marines surrounded this anti-American stronghold early today in preparation for a complex raid to retake control of the city and apprehend those responsible for last week's slayings of four U.S. security contractors.

The highly anticipated action, dubbed Operation Valiant Resolve, was expected to be one of the biggest military offensives since the fall of Saddam Hussein's government a year ago.

All roads leading to this city of 300,000 were cut off and barricaded with tanks and concertina wire. Working through the cold and windy desert night, under a large moon, Marines set up camps for detainees and residents who might flee any fighting. Before dawn, several Marine positions were hit by mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Bursts of automatic gunfire could be heard throughout the city.

[Woahhs]

Like it or not, the "media front" is critical, since it can affect the American will to continue the war, or lead to disaffection, low home-front morale, and possibly a (shudder) Kerry victory.

I forget who it was who recently said something to the effect that "in a democracy, public opinion counts for as much as the rule of law."

[Getsmart64]

He's living on his dads reputation...

[LdSentinal]

I have been in harms way...and will again...sooner or later....once as a member of the active duty

Increadible. You must tell me more of your experiences at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch.

[Triple Word Score]

Maybe we should ping JimRob. He could change the caption under the fundraising progress bar to "Buy LDSentinal A Clue!" It'd top out in a day, y'think?

;-)

[McGavin999]

Better read #371 from the WP. We've got a pretty serious situation developing here.

[Aracelis]

Thousands of Marines surrounded this anti-American stronghold early today in preparation for a complex raid to retake control of the city and apprehend those responsible for last week's slayings of four U.S. security contractors.

And with "extreme prejudice"...I hope.

[Travis McGee]

The IDF have developed a range of "downloaded" missiles to limit the blast effect to almost just the car the bad guys are riding in. Only about 2 or 3 pounds of explosive. As close to surgical as you can get, from a missile. Snipers *could* be more precise, but face it, you put snipers in the middle of Gaza or Fallujah, they might end up like those Blackhawk guys. So snipers can work the edges, or be inserted onto some towers, but for the most part, we're talking about missile attacks.

[BurbankKarl]

Before dawn, several Marine positions were hit by mortars and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Bursts of automatic gunfire could be heard throughout the city.

[archy]

We need more soldiers go to Iraq ?

We can use some additional personnel in certain critical support functions, and it doesn't hurt to have additional acclimitized trigger-pullers available as a reaction force, particularly if the trouble in Falluja does not remain confined to Falluja.

[Terp]

I thought I read that there were mortar attacks already happening in an earlier post.

Outbound not inbound, just the bad guys making noise.

[saquin]

The LA Times has been updated somewhat. Title has been changed to "Marines Roll into Fallouja". Some new info:

"Before dawn, several Marine positions on the fringes of town were hit by mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenade fire; one Marine was reported killed.

The Marines called in air support to take out some enemy positions and said in some cases the attackers were working in groups as large as 12.

Witnesses reported gunfire overnight and said at least four homes had been hit by U.S. aerial strikes.

At daylight, Marines in armored Humvees began distributing leaflets asking residents to stay in their homes and help identify insurgents and those responsible for last week's killings. They also took over the local radio station and used bullhorns to get the message out.

"We are going to stop the anarchy inside this city," one announcement said; another asserted that insurgents were violating the peaceful tenets of Islam."

""Everyone's in position; now we'll see it develop," Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commanding officer of the 1st Marine Division, said shortly after 10 a.m. today."

"This morning, some residents could be seen fleeing west toward Ramadi, and witnesses said the Marines were allowing some cars to leave. But no vehicles were being allowed into the city, except for those carrying food or medical supplies."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-fallouja5apr05,1,5684702.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Travis McGee]

An urban terrorist "Tet Offensive" could be very serious. I'd rather keep our troops out of IED hell holes, keep them cordoned off. But we're here, and they're there, so they have the intell, and we're just guessing what's going on.

[BurbankKarl]

Before dawn, several Marine positions on the fringes of town were hit by mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenade fire; one Marine was reported killed.

The Marines called in air support to take out some enemy positions and said in some cases the attackers were working in groups as large as 12.

Witnesses reported gunfire overnight and said at least four homes had been hit by U.S. aerial strikes.

At daylight, Marines in armored Humvees began distributing leaflets asking residents to stay in their homes and help identify insurgents and those responsible for last week's killings. They also took over the local radio station and used bullhorns to get the message out.

"We are going to stop the anarchy inside this city," one announcement said; another asserted that insurgents were violating the peaceful tenets of Islam.

"We're being a little more firm this time. We have to let people know that the terrorists who are harming their families and violating Islam are going against peace and brotherhood," said Capt. Michael Fehm. "We're driving a wedge between the insurgents and the good people of Fallouja."

[BurbankKarl]

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=us&q=valiant-resolve&filter=0

updated google search for y'all

[Woahhs]

Hey Archy...is JimRob charging you for webhosting yet? That's quite a homepage you have goin' there ;)

[tubavil]

We have to let people know that the terrorists who are harming their families and violating Islam are going against peace and brotherhood," said Capt. Michael Fehm.
=== === === ===
I hope the Capt. gets wise before he gets dead.

[McGavin999]

Looks like this is a coordinated effort between the Sunnis in Falluja and the Shiia cleric Sadar. There may be a lot more going on here than we realize. I'm not talking about Falluja, it's a diversion!

[Travis McGee]

Yes, we shall see....

God Bless all of our troops carrying loaded weapons in harms way!!